General News.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4691, 19 January 1884, Page 2

General News.

A dieabpul hailstorm passed over part of the Ashbnrton district on Thursday afternoon, the stones being over an iaeh in diameter. It did great damage—in one case it cut down a crop of wheat of 280 acres beyond any hope of being saved. Many farmers have suffered considerably. China is cultivating the poppy extensively, and unless Christian England prevents her, she will soon be able to dis* pense with the importance of the poison* ous drug, opium. This would be such a serious blow to the industry of England's Indian possessions that we wonder the virtuous Britona have not already begun to shriek against the ingenuity of China in raising her own poiaon.—Home Paper. .. The Italian insurance companies told King Humbert, of Italy, who, having spent his money in paying his father's debts, tried to get his life insured for £120,000, that crowded heads were a poor venture, and they never took them. Traveller (at railway station): •' Good morning, Pat. What time does the next train leave here ?" " Begorra, yer honor* it's just wint." ;